Hame.



N0.'831,043. I PATENTED SEPT. 18, 1906.

P. DIONNE.

HAME.

APPLICATION FILED DEOJ. 1905\ rnrcn.

PHILIP DIONNE, OF BEAVERVILLE, ILLINOIS.

HAIVIE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 18, 1906.

Application filed December 7,1905. Serial No. 290,861.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, PHILIP DIONNE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Beaverville, in the county of Iroquois and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Hame, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in hames.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction of hames, more especially the means for adjustably connecting the ends of the hame-strap with the upper portions of the hames and to enable the said strap to be readily raised and lowered to adapt the hames for different sizes of horsecollars and horses.

Vith these and other objects in view the invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size, and minor details of construction within the scope of the claims may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the upper portion of a hame constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation, partly in section, showing the upper portions of a pair of hames and the connecting-strap. Fig. 3 is a detail view of one of the pivoted catches.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

1 designates a hame, which is provided at its upper portion with a plurality of spaced independently-movable catches 2 and a fixed stop orseat 3, arranged at thelower end of the series of catches and spaced from the lowermost catch, as shown. The catches 2, which are approximately triangular, are provided at the top with rounded extensions 4 and at the bottom with depending lugs or arms 5, which limit the outward swing of the catches, as hereinafter explained. The catches are mounted within a recess 6 of the hame and each catch is provided at its extension 4 with an eye 7 for the reception of a pivot 8, which secures the catch to the hame.

The recess 6 is covered by a face-plate 9, which is provided with a plurality of openings 10, through which the tapering triangular body portion of the catches project. These tapering projecting portions form angular front ends and have inclined upper edges and approximately horizontal lower edges, which form shoulders and which are adapted to engage loops or rings 11 of a connecting-strap 12, whereby the latter is held against upward movement when arranged in the spaces between the catches or between the lowermost catch and the fixed stop or seat 3. The inclined upper edges of the pro jecting portion of the catches form supports for holding the loops or rings, and the latter are adapted to be readily moved downward on the arms 5 by exerting the necessary pressure which will operate to depress the catches. The face-plate is secured to the hame by screws or other suitable fastening devices, and the catches are maintained normally in an extended position by means of coiled springs 13, mounted in extensions 14 of the recess 6 and engaging the inner or rear edges of the catches. The depending arms or portions 5 of the catches engage the inner face of the plate 9, and thereby limit the outward swing of the catches. The stop or seat 3 consists of a projection, preferably formed integral with the face-plate and spaced from the lower catch of the series. These projections or stops are adapted to limit the downward movement of the loops or rings 11 of the hame-strap 12.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination with a hame having a face-plate provided with an opening, of a catch pivoted at the top within the hame and having a rounded upper edge and provided with a straight lower edge having a depending lug arranged to limit the outward swing of the catch, said catch having an angular front end extending through the opening of the face-plate, and a spring for holding the catch in its extended position.

2. The combination of a hame having a plate provided at intervals with openings, a plurality of independently-pivoted catches mounted within the hame and spaced apart and having tapering projecting portions extending through the openings of the said plate, said catches being also provided with projecting portions arranged to engage the inner face of the plate for limiting their out- Ward movement, and independently-movplate and having means for engaging the in able springs mounted within the hame and her face of the same. engaging the catches. In testimony that I claim the foregoing as 3. The combination of a hame, a plate semy own I have hereto afiiXed my signature 5 cured to the hame andprovided with a series in the presence of two Witnesses.

of openings and having a projection located at one end of the series and forming a fixed PHILIP DIONNE' seat, and a series of independently-movable Witnesses: catches pivotally mounted Within the hame RENNIOK DENAGER,

10 and projecting through the openings of the ZEPHIIRE T. LAMBERT. 

